The Angling Trust is the representative body for game, coarse and sea anglers in England and Wales. Our members support the campaigns and legal action we carry out to protect fish stocks and our programmes to increase the number of anglers fishing for fun and in competitions. We're fighting for the future of YOUR fishing, but we need YOUR support to do more. If you want to protect your fish and fishing, for now and in future, join your representative body today.

Fish Legal (formerly the ACA) a unique, non-profit making organisation set up to use the law to fight pollution and other damage to the water environment - both freshwater and marine - and to protect the rights of anglers and angling. We act for fishing clubs, fishery owners, syndicates, commercial fisheries across the whole of the UK. In England only, we act for the Angling Trust as well as other members.

Joining the Angling Trust as an individual member includes great benefits. You get 10% off at fishing venues, free £5m public liability insurance worth £14.99, entry to Angling Trust member only competitions two copies of our magazine each year, discounts on tackle, books fishing mags and outdoor gear, membership of our Fish for Free Loyalty Points Scheme, e-updates and members only prize draws plus more - for all the details click on the picture above...

Those who participate in sporting activities must ensure that anything they do does not cause injury or loss to other people or damage their property. Angling activities are no exception and the Angling Trust has developed a Civil and Employers Liability facility for Affiliated Member Clubs and Organisations. For the full details and to purchase this insurance call our office on 0844 77 00 616 (Option 1) - your call will only take a few minutes and costs less than 5p a minute from landlines.

News/Blogs

We want to make sure our members and non-members get all the latest news on what the Angling Trust are doing to protect fish and fishing, get more people fishing more often, our legal battles and competition news.

Campaigns/Enforcement

The Angling Trust are the only organisation that campaigns for all anglers on issues affecting salt and freshwater and the fish and angling activities of each of these environments. We employ a Marine Campaigns Manager and Head of Freshwater Campaigns to oversee these projects - our members have direct access to these employees and their teams. Fish Legal, the legal arm of the Trust in England fighting legal issues for its sea, coarse and game angling members. We need YOU to join us so we can campaign at the highest level and protect your fish and fishing.

Coaching is key to the long-term development of every angler whether new to the sport or whether involved in performance squads competing across the world. Coaching courses offered by the Angling Trust will help set you on the right path to being able to provide the most appropriate coaching when the learner requires it.

Get hooked on fishing or get back into angling with angling participation events to get the whole family fishing... Want to get into fishing for the first time, bring your friends or family fishing, get back into angling after a break from the sport or just learn new skills and develop your experience? We've got a whole range of FREE activities for anglers of all levels to attend.

To every match angler the Fish 'O' Mania competition is one of the biggest in match fishing. With 24 qualifying rounds available. Competitors will try to add their name to the illustrious list of previous champions and scoop a cool £50,000 in the process.

Get Fishing!

Want to get into fishing or find out where to go fishing? Our website "Get Fishing" has all the angling information you and your family need. Find out about angling events, fisheries and venues so you can start fishing for the first time, get back into angling or go family fishing after school or in the holidays.

News

Caterers Called On To Take Wild Sea Bass Off The Menu

20.02.18

The Angling Trust has written to the British Hospitality Association calling on it to make sure its members aren’t supporting illegal fishing by selling or serving protected spawning sea bass in February and March.

A ban was introduced by the EU on February 1st this year to protect wild bass when they come together to spawn and are particularly vulnerable to fishing. The spawning stock of bass in Northern European waters has declined by two-thirds since 2010.

Unfortunately, despite the ban on bass being landed, members of the public have reported fresh wild bass from Northern European waters being sold by fishmongers and restaurants in February. As a result, the Angling Trust is raising awareness of the ban with the catering industry in the UK.

In a letter, the Angling Trust has called on the British Hospitality Association to inform its members that the buying or selling of fresh wild northern sea bass in February and March risks supporting illegal landings of a stock which is so threatened that it may not be able to regenerate itself for an extended period.

Members of the public can help by informing any restaurants or retailers selling wild bass from northern European waters that the fish they are selling or serving in February and March has been landed illegally. In order to support the campaign the Angling Trust’s partner, Save Our Sea Bass, has set up a Facebook group, Sea Bass – Prohibited Species, for members of the public to report incidences of wild bass being sold during the closed period during February and March.

David Mitchell, Head of Marine at the Angling Trust, said: “Retailers and caterers may not be aware of the ban on landing any bass during February and March this year. We are trying to help raise awareness that any purchasing, selling or serving of wild bass during these months risks supporting illegal fishing as well as threatening the future of the stock. The catering industry can play an important role in cutting out demand for illegal landings of bass and helping to inform consumers about regulations put in place to prevent wild sea bass being removed from menus permanently.